Among China's many provinces, Hebei Province's status as the capital has always seemed a little confusing. When it comes to the capital of Hebei Province, many people may first think of Baoding, Tianjin, or even Beijing, as these three cities have served as the capital of Hebei Province many times in history. However, the current capital of Hebei is actually Shijiazhuang, a relatively lesser-known city.
Shijiazhuang's name sounds rather rustic, which may be one of the reasons why it is not universally recognized as a provincial capital. In the impression of many outsiders, Shijiazhuang is more like an ordinary village than a provincial administrative center. This difference in perception makes Shijiazhuang's presence relatively weak on a national scale, and it is considered one of the most inconspicuous provincial capitals in the country.
The story of Shijiazhuang began in a small village with no name attached. As early as the end of the Qing Dynasty, Shijiazhuang was only an inconspicuous village under Houlu County, with only 200 households. However, in 1902, the god of fate threw an olive branch to the village - the construction of the Jinghan Railway. The railway set up Zhentou Station in the east of Shijiazhuang Village, making this village the intersection point of the Jinghan and Zhengtai railways, thus opening the road to the development of Shijiazhuang.
In 1925, with the expansion of the city, the two villages of Shijiazhuang and Xiumen were merged and named Shimen City. In 1947, the People's Liberation Army liberated Shijiazhuang and renamed Shimen City Shijiazhuang. Since then, the name Shijiazhuang has officially been recorded in the long river of history.
The change of the Hebei provincial capital is a history of displacement. In the 55 years from 1913 to 1968, the capital of Hebei Province was relocated 11 times, frequently going back and forth between Baoding, Tianjin, and Beijing. Among them, Baoding was the provincial capital city with the longest time in Hebei until 1966, when the province could not gain a foothold in Baoding and was forced to relocate again.
In 1968, Hebei Province finally decided to move the provincial capital to Shijiazhuang after many considerations. Shijiazhuang's transportation advantages and relatively stable mass base are important factors for it to become the provincial capital. In 1971, with the stabilization of the situation, Hebei Province originally planned to move the provincial capital back to Baoding, but in the end, according to the instructions of Hebei Province, the Hebei provincial capital settled in Shijiazhuang, ending more than half a century of wandering.
As the capital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang has achieved significant growth over the past few decades. It has gradually become an important commodity distribution center in the country and an important large commercial port in the north. Xibaipo, in the northwest of the city, is one of the five revolutionary holy places in China, known as the "cradle of New China", and is a business card of Shijiazhuang.
However, Shijiazhuang's development has not been easy. Compared with the surrounding Beijing and Tianjin, Shijiazhuang's popularity and influence are significantly lower. In the province, Shijiazhuang's economic strength also lags behind Tangshan all year round, and its historical and cultural heritage is not as good as that of ancient cities such as Handan and Xingtai. These factors have led to Shijiazhuang being known as "the most non-existent provincial capital city in the country".
The name of Shijiazhuang has always been a topic of discussion. Some people think that the name "Shijiazhuang" is too down-to-earth and does not fit the image of the provincial capital. Therefore, it has been suggested that its earlier name "Shimen City" be restored, or that it should be renamed "Xibaipo City" after the revolutionary holy place Xibaipo. Such a name change will not only increase the city's popularity, but also better match the positioning and style of the provincial capital.
The history of Shijiazhuang is a history of struggle full of opportunities and challenges. From an obscure hamlet to the capital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang has experienced hardships and changes and gradually developed into a modern city. Despite facing problems such as low visibility and uneven development, Shijiazhuang is still working hard to seek its own breakthrough and development. In the future, how Shijiazhuang will write its own history is worth waiting and seeing.